Summary

The GBIF Secretariat seeks proposals from consultants to research and draft a written study assessing the impact of the first phase of the Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) programme (2015-2019) in its target regions of sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), using selected indicators recommended in a baseline study carried out in the early phase of the programme.

Background

The GBIF Secretariat is currently managing the four-year BID programme co-funded by the European Union’s Development and Cooperation Directorate (DEVCO, or EuropeAid) and GBIF. The overall aim of the programme is to increase the amount of biodiversity information available in the ‘ACP’ nations of sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, to support research and decision making in these regions. The €4.9m funding from BID (€3.9m from the EU and €1m in-kind funding from GBIF) is supporting capacity enhancement activities and projects to mobilize biodiversity data and strengthen national or regional biodiversity information facilities in the ACP countries.

Since the launch of the BID programme in 2015, GBIF has issued four calls for project proposals: two in Africa (2015 and 2017), and one each in the Caribbean and Pacific (2016). In all, 63 projects have been funded through the programme, with final implementation and reporting due to finish in March 2019. To support the funded projects, GBIF has coordinated capacity enhancement workshops for each of the regions, on biodiversity data mobilization (4) and biodiversity data use for policy (3). In addition, regional meetings focused on wider engagement have been held in each region, with follow up regional meetings planned during 2019. A ‘BID end event’ is scheduled to take place in the final quarter of 2019, to reflect on the achievements of this first phase of the programme and to plan next steps.

The study

In order to report effectively on the results of the BID programme, GBIF Secretariat is committed to providing an impact study giving an overview of the difference that the programme has made in the target regions, as well as in the GBIF community more widely. The impact study will follow up the baseline study carried out in 2016. Impact will be measured in four main areas: a) increased mobilization of biodiversity data from the target regions; b) increased use of biodiversity data in the target regions; c) enhanced capacity for mobilization and use of data in the target regions; and d) sustainability of biodiversity data mobilization and use in the target regions through establishment of national and regional biodiversity information networks.

Key indicators and sources

Drawing on the baseline study, the following indicators are recommended as the core of the impact study. The Consultant is welcome to suggest other indicators of impact. Source information will be provided to the Consultant, as highlighted below:

Data mobilization

Increase in the volume of biodiversity data published through GBIF by institutions in the target countries of the three ACP regions. Source: data content metrics and aggregates from before and after implementation of the BID projects, as provided by the GBIF Secretariat data products team; datasets on GBIF.org carrying a BID project ID.

Improvement in the taxonomic and geographic coverage of the biodiversity data available through GBIF.org in the target regions. Source: data content metrics and aggregates as above, with analytical tools as suggested by the Consultant in collaboration with the GBIF Secretariat data products team, datasets on GBIF.org carrying a BID project ID.

Increase in the number of GBIF registered data publishers from the BID target regions. Source: publisher registrations over time, as provided by the GBIF Secretariat data products team.

Data use

Increase in the number of GBIF registered data users from the BID target regions. Source: user registrations as provided by the GBIF Secretariat informatics team.

Increase in the number of data downloads from GBIF.org from the BID target regions. Source: download metrics provided by the GBIF Secretariat informatics team.

Increase in the number of peer-reviewed papers by authors from institutions located in the target regions citing use of GBIF as a data source. Source: metrics on GBIF citations as provided by the GBIF Secretariat communications team.

Capacity enhancement

Increase in scores in both national and institutional capacity self-assessment. Source: capacity self assessment forms returned both at the early progress report and final reporting stage of funded projects.

Number of participants in BID capacity enhancement workshops, both on-site and online, receiving certification through the GBIF Digital Badges programme. Source: guidance from GBIF Secretariat participation team

Number of GBIF Volunteer Mentors from the BID target countries. Source: GBIF.org, guidance from GBIF Secretariat participation team

Sustainability

Number of new thematic, national and regional biodiversity information platforms/networks in the target regions (both technical facilities and institutional/human networks). Source: BID project final reports, guidance from GBIF participation team.

Number of new GBIF Participant countries and organizations from the BID target regions. Source: GBIF.org, guidance from GBIF Secretariat participation team

Other sources

Audience

The primary audience for the study will be the European Union funders of BID, together with the GBIF Governing Board, with the main purpose of demonstrating the impact of the joint investment. However, the document should be written in an engaging style accessible to policy makers, funding agencies and GBIF stakeholders in order to express clearly the impacts of the BID programme and lessons for future capacity enhancement activities related to biodiversity data mobilization and use. GBIF Secretariat would welcome and support development of a peer-reviewed academic article based on the findings of the impact report.

Timing

The impact study and accompanying slide-deck are expected to be available for presentation at the three BID regional meetings during 2019, provisionally starting in June. The study will also be presented at the BID closing event taking place in 4th quarter, 2019, and at the GBIF Governing Board meeting taking place in the Netherlands, October 2019 as part of the biodiversity_next conference.

Because the contract period will begin before the end of implementation and final reporting of the funded projects, the Consultant is advised to begin with preparatory work using materials already available, and update data and indicators towards the end of the writing period to ensure that the impact metrics are as complete as possible in the final study.

Deliverables

Slide deck summarizing main narrative and metrics of the impact study.

Deadline for proposal submission: 14 January 2019
Expected start of contract: 1 February 2019
Delivery of first draft: 31 March 2019
Delivery of final draft: 30 April 2019
Delivery of final products: 15 May 2019

Your proposal

Please include the following in your proposal submission:

A summary of the approach you will take to the work, including a potential outline for the report (no more than two pages)

Suggestions for additional metrics/sources you would recommend for the study

Specific suggestion for a methodological approach to measure the impact of the data mobilized through BID in terms of gap-filling, improved modelling outcomes etc. (optional but will help the submission).

A quotation in Euros for the amount you would charge for this work

A full up to date CV

Examples (attachments or links) of products from three projects you have led in the past five years that are relevant to this proposal.

Please send your proposal to bid@gbif.org with cc to Tim Hirsch at thirsch@gbif.org.

If you have any questions relating to the specifications for this contract, feel free to get in touch with us using the emails above.